The Pueblo had since long produced jewellery made from turquoise, small blueish polished stones, placed in a leather holder or imbued in animal teeth to form a necklace or armband. It was rather simple but a symbol of status and a sign to treat someone with greater respect. The stones size was not particularly important in comparison to its patterned properties (although, because turquoise was not actively mined a larger stone would of course be more spectacular).

The plane pale blue stones were often worn by the elderly of status or great warriors or hunters. This was a ceremonial rite and preparation for the afterlife, monamauga, to see what grave goods would follow with them. In some cases, the elderly elite would hand down the jewellery to their descendants increasing their societal status as it signalled a virtuous life. The plane blue stone that travelled down generations could in rare cases be placed in a headband should more than three have been collected within that elite or warrior family – this tradition was more common around Jacal than Chaco, the old homeland of the Pueblo. The absolute wealthiest and elite women in the Pueblo society could at times be seen playing Stidi with flat ornated turquoise rocks, however, to partake in or even in a lifetime more than hear of its dreamlike existence was rare indeed.

The speckled or veined turquoise was less valued and thus became a priced burial item, a sign of respect and grief. These were sometimes produced for sacrifices in holy locations placing them between massive boulders or natural cracks and gaps forming on mountainsides. It all depended on if they were gifted to the afterworld through portals or a gift to nature in hope for rain. This speckled jewellery was commonly sacrificed during the summer solstice festivals by throwing them into the fire or crushing them, its ashes and pieces then being used to derive omens from.

When the sun stood at its height and the congregation stood around the flames a single pendant was held high and presented to the tribes, it was paraded around the fire. When all had witnessed the fine craft, whose faces turned stern or giddy in anticipation all observed how it was thrown to the centre of the fire. And there it lay as the tribes began chanting. The dialects were far from harmonious this warm year, drought had made their throats long for a single drop of water or at least enough to grow their crops so their stomachs would not join in song growling.

From the flames the rock was later found. Cracking in many smaller pieces, it was placed on a piece of leather with red ochre that slowly mixing with the dark soot still on the turquoise.

Had it broken, nearly crumbled to the touch, then it would have been a sign of unbelievable despair and starvation. But it was not. The elderly all gathered around the small piece of leather, some kneeling before it so those further back could see. The stone had broken into many larger pieces. They inspected those where ochre and clays had entered the cracks in hope of a sign. They murmured. But their tribes, the congregation, was silent and all that could be heard was cracks in fires and those unlucky few a faint ringing in their ears.

One elderly man nodded whispering “The signs are uncertain, perhaps we should consult these magic bone runes?” He shook his hands and tossed the pieces gently into the air, landing beside the piece of leather holding the broken turquoise, those landing facing upward spelled evening sun river. There was some anger directed towards the old man for not respecting the ritual. The omen was vague and the bones reinforced the fears of a harsh year. “I believe” the elderly man said “even disregarding the bones that rain will not be abundant this year. Many of us will hunger.”

The omen was presented to their tribes, all were silent but some muffled sniffling and crying could be heard. It would be the second harsh year in a row and crop yields certainly would not be enough to sustain them. The western parts of the Pueblo complex would have to rely more on hunting and foraging during these scarce times.